Anyone who knows anything about gaming understands that gaming on a MacOS system isn't the ideal scenario. So, if you’re professionally deeply entangled in MacOS but still want to play the latest AAA titles, you’d probably want to get another Windows PC just for gaming.
But not everyone has the luxury of having the budget for two separate systems. Luckily, with some tweaks, extra downloads, and a bit of subscribing, you can play the latest Windows games on a MacOS device. Provided, of course, that the hardware can handle them.
Here’s a short look at the state of gaming on MacOS systems.
Limited Straight Up Gaming Support
There are a lot of games that are compatible with MacOS. Fortnite, for example, can run natively provided that the hardware is up to par with system requirements. So, if you have a MacBook with a Core M and no discrete GPU, you're probably not going to be able to make the most of Fortnite and other intense games. Although, it’s important that you can settle with some platformers and other less intensive games that are just as exciting and competitive.
Furthermore, if you plan on playing on a MacBook, the MacBook Pro with a discrete GPU is recommended. However, you might still have to limit the visuals a little bit just to maximize framerate. Sure, 30fps on a 2K resolution is cool and playable but playing at 60fps at just 1080p would help you be more competitive.
Other than that, you can also use an external graphics card if you wish. Apple’s Blackmagic eGPU can help you raise the gaming capabilities of your system even more. The only caveat is that you can't use it on previous generation systems that didn't have Thunderbolt 3. So, for those of you who think that your previous generation MacBook Air can finally handle some gaming, don’t hold your collective breaths.
But, if in case you prefer PUBG over Fortnite, then this method isn’t something that you’ll be able to do. Game developers just aren’t incentivised enough to design games for Apple’s computers.
Games Distribution Platforms (Steam, Origin)
There aren’t a lot of games made specifically with Mac OS in mind. So, if you’re looking for something to play on your Mac device, you’d have to sift through a lot of games before you find one that you like and one that your hardware is capable of running.
This is where gaming services like Steam and Origin come in. They’re more like games curation services where you can sort and categorize according to compatibility, genre, and other useful features. If you’re looking for a game to play on your Mac, these services are the best place to begin your search.
However, don’t expect their full libraries to support Mac OS as only a handful of developers make games that are compatible with Apple’s OS.
Game Streaming Services (GeForce Now, Google Stadia)
AAA games usually get Mac support. However, their performance isn't something to write home about. Mac hardware, after all, is designed with reliability in mind with gaming performance stuck in the back burner.
For these reasons, game streaming services such as GeForce Now and Google Stadia have popped up out of nowhere. It’s a relatively new concept that only gained traction once fast fibre internet services became cheaper and easier to access.
It doesn’t require any sort of graphics card at all since it uses the internet to stream games. When you play a game through these services, you’re essentially playing it on the provider’s computers and you’re just merely streaming it on whatever internet-enabled device you’re using it on. This effectively eliminates compatibility issues, hardware requirements, and other things that hamper your gaming experience on a Mac.
Boot Camp
While technically, you can play games on an Apple computer, the fact of the matter is that Macs just aren’t made with gaming in mind. And that’s something that most Mac users are willing to live with.
The temptation’s always there though. Some Mac users just couldn’t live with the fact that their gaming experience will always be diminished.
Enter Boot Camp. It’s mainly a disk partitioning tool that comes with a few handy extra features. For gamers, the most important peripheral feature is the ability to install Windows on another partition of your computer’s disk.
Essentially, you can use full Windows and all the gaming-related features that it comes with. For example, you can also run Windows-specific games natively with it too. PUBG, therefore, shouldn’t be a hassle to play anymore. As an added benefit, if you have an Xbox Play Anywhere subscription, games you have on that platform should be playable on your MacOS device as well.
All of this, however, comes with the caveat of eating through a lot of disk space. You have two operating systems on your device after all.
Limited Gaming Experience but More Than Makes Up for it In Hardware Quality and Professional Reliability
Apple computers such as MacBooks and Mac Pros are all excellent devices. The MacBook Air, for example, has been a staple on coffee shop tables everywhere because of its excellent battery life and decent performance. Mac Pros, on the other hand, are favourites of filmmakers, YouTubers, and other creatives and professionals who rely on their computers for a living.
However, buying an Apple computer knowing full well that it’s going to have to double as a gaming device isn’t a smart thing to do. Aside from having a limited array of games compatible with the OS, it's also going to have somewhat restrained hardware. Sure, the Vega 56 graphics cards and the other cards that they choose to put in their devices are awesome to have on a work-related project, but if you’re planning to play games with them, they’re going to feel a bit limited especially when compared to Nvidia graphics cards specifically designed for gaming. It’s also going to sting a bit to know that they’re often more expensive too.
Considering that Apple computers are usually more expensive than their similarly-configured Windows counterparts, it's easy to diss Apple when it comes to gaming performance. However, if you factor in the precision-crafted body, and stellar performance when it comes to productivity applications, the trade-offs don’t seem to be too big of a deal breaker.
At the end of the day, the many professionals who prefer MacOS over Windows 10 aren’t buying Macs for their gaming prowess. They’re in it for the reliability of Apple’s walled garden ecosystem.
But not everyone has the luxury of having the budget for two separate systems. Luckily, with some tweaks, extra downloads, and a bit of subscribing, you can play the latest Windows games on a MacOS device. Provided, of course, that the hardware can handle them.
Here’s a short look at the state of gaming on MacOS systems.
Limited Straight Up Gaming Support
There are a lot of games that are compatible with MacOS. Fortnite, for example, can run natively provided that the hardware is up to par with system requirements. So, if you have a MacBook with a Core M and no discrete GPU, you're probably not going to be able to make the most of Fortnite and other intense games. Although, it’s important that you can settle with some platformers and other less intensive games that are just as exciting and competitive.
Furthermore, if you plan on playing on a MacBook, the MacBook Pro with a discrete GPU is recommended. However, you might still have to limit the visuals a little bit just to maximize framerate. Sure, 30fps on a 2K resolution is cool and playable but playing at 60fps at just 1080p would help you be more competitive.
Other than that, you can also use an external graphics card if you wish. Apple’s Blackmagic eGPU can help you raise the gaming capabilities of your system even more. The only caveat is that you can't use it on previous generation systems that didn't have Thunderbolt 3. So, for those of you who think that your previous generation MacBook Air can finally handle some gaming, don’t hold your collective breaths.
But, if in case you prefer PUBG over Fortnite, then this method isn’t something that you’ll be able to do. Game developers just aren’t incentivised enough to design games for Apple’s computers.
Games Distribution Platforms (Steam, Origin)
There aren’t a lot of games made specifically with Mac OS in mind. So, if you’re looking for something to play on your Mac device, you’d have to sift through a lot of games before you find one that you like and one that your hardware is capable of running.
This is where gaming services like Steam and Origin come in. They’re more like games curation services where you can sort and categorize according to compatibility, genre, and other useful features. If you’re looking for a game to play on your Mac, these services are the best place to begin your search.
However, don’t expect their full libraries to support Mac OS as only a handful of developers make games that are compatible with Apple’s OS.
Game Streaming Services (GeForce Now, Google Stadia)
AAA games usually get Mac support. However, their performance isn't something to write home about. Mac hardware, after all, is designed with reliability in mind with gaming performance stuck in the back burner.
For these reasons, game streaming services such as GeForce Now and Google Stadia have popped up out of nowhere. It’s a relatively new concept that only gained traction once fast fibre internet services became cheaper and easier to access.
It doesn’t require any sort of graphics card at all since it uses the internet to stream games. When you play a game through these services, you’re essentially playing it on the provider’s computers and you’re just merely streaming it on whatever internet-enabled device you’re using it on. This effectively eliminates compatibility issues, hardware requirements, and other things that hamper your gaming experience on a Mac.
Boot Camp
While technically, you can play games on an Apple computer, the fact of the matter is that Macs just aren’t made with gaming in mind. And that’s something that most Mac users are willing to live with.
The temptation’s always there though. Some Mac users just couldn’t live with the fact that their gaming experience will always be diminished.
Enter Boot Camp. It’s mainly a disk partitioning tool that comes with a few handy extra features. For gamers, the most important peripheral feature is the ability to install Windows on another partition of your computer’s disk.
Essentially, you can use full Windows and all the gaming-related features that it comes with. For example, you can also run Windows-specific games natively with it too. PUBG, therefore, shouldn’t be a hassle to play anymore. As an added benefit, if you have an Xbox Play Anywhere subscription, games you have on that platform should be playable on your MacOS device as well.
All of this, however, comes with the caveat of eating through a lot of disk space. You have two operating systems on your device after all.
Limited Gaming Experience but More Than Makes Up for it In Hardware Quality and Professional Reliability
Apple computers such as MacBooks and Mac Pros are all excellent devices. The MacBook Air, for example, has been a staple on coffee shop tables everywhere because of its excellent battery life and decent performance. Mac Pros, on the other hand, are favourites of filmmakers, YouTubers, and other creatives and professionals who rely on their computers for a living.
However, buying an Apple computer knowing full well that it’s going to have to double as a gaming device isn’t a smart thing to do. Aside from having a limited array of games compatible with the OS, it's also going to have somewhat restrained hardware. Sure, the Vega 56 graphics cards and the other cards that they choose to put in their devices are awesome to have on a work-related project, but if you’re planning to play games with them, they’re going to feel a bit limited especially when compared to Nvidia graphics cards specifically designed for gaming. It’s also going to sting a bit to know that they’re often more expensive too.
Considering that Apple computers are usually more expensive than their similarly-configured Windows counterparts, it's easy to diss Apple when it comes to gaming performance. However, if you factor in the precision-crafted body, and stellar performance when it comes to productivity applications, the trade-offs don’t seem to be too big of a deal breaker.
At the end of the day, the many professionals who prefer MacOS over Windows 10 aren’t buying Macs for their gaming prowess. They’re in it for the reliability of Apple’s walled garden ecosystem.